How will Livonia Franklin's taller, more-seasoned boys basketball team fare this winter?

Your guess may be as good as head coach Jeremy Rheault's

"This is one of the first times in my coaching career that I can honestly say I don't know what to expect from a team," said Rheault. "We only graduated three seniors from last year's team and we're bringing back several players who gained a ton of experience last season.

"We were so small last year — actually, we were tiny — that we had a hard time matching up with other teams. This year I expect us to be a better rebounding team."

One thing you can count on this season regarding the Patriots: They will assuredly improve on last year's 1-20 record, which was a reflection of their youth and shortage of big bodies.

"Joe is a well-rounded player who is my first four-year varsity guy," Rheault raved. "Offensively, he's a slasher type who knows how to get to the rim. He's also very good at the defensive end.

"Jackie is one of those players who works extremely hard around the rim and a good rebounder."

Junior guard Johnny Cantrell (5-11) led the Patriots in scoring last season as a sophomore. Cantrell will serve as the team's primary press-breaker as well as a reliable threat to score from the perimeter.

"Johnny is an excellent ballhander who handles pressure well," said Rheault.

The Patriots' lack-of-height issues will be solved as least partially by the emergence of sophomore Mark Mettie, who stands 6-7.

"Mark had a really good summer; he worked hard to improve his game," said Rheault. "Once he puts on a little more muscle, he'll be a force in the paint."

The Patriots received good news earlier this week when senior forward Denzel Adams (6-4) committed to play this season following a stellar season as the starting quarterback on Franklin's football team.

Adams, who only played a few games for the Patriots last season, brings a variety of positive attributes to Rheault's rotation.

"One of the best things I like about Denzel is that he not only gives you second effort, he gives you third effort," said Rheault. "He never gives up on a rebound and he gives you everything he has on the defensive end."

"Jax is a hard-nosed player who will help us in the rebounding department," Rheault said. "Caleb is good in the open court and Cortez is a first-year varsity guy who will give us nice depth in the back-court."